If state Rep. Jessica Farrar has her way, men in Texas will pay a $100 fine for "unregulated masturbatory emissions" and undergo a digital rectal exam to get a vasectomy, a colonoscopy or a Viagra prescription.

Farrar's proposed legislation, filed last week, calls on the Department of State Health Services to explain the rules in an illustrated booklet titled "A Man's Right to Know."

Yeah, she's raising hell in the Texas House, much like a few of her cohorts in the Senate. Driving these good old boys crazy.

I am curious about one paragraph in the DMN:

If state Rep. Jessica Farrar has her way, men in Texas will pay a $100 fine for "unregulated masturbatory emissions" and undergo a digital rectal exam to get a vasectomy, a colonoscopy or a Viagra prescription.

Since a colonoscopy is a lot more invasive than the yearly lubricated finger in the bum (DRE), I assume this is an analogy to the Texas pre-requirements necessary to have an abortion. However, that doesn't wash since the colonoscopy is not something any guy would elect to do.

It probably doesn't have a ghost of a chance to pass anyway. Texas State Government = Misogyny-R-Us these days.

Baywolfe wrote:

It probably doesn't have a ghost of a chance to pass anyway. Texas State Government = Misogyny-R-Us these days.

Well, it shouldn't pass, of course. But the point she made very eloquently, in my view, is that the comparable restrictive, intrusive and ridiculous legislation governing woman's health shouldn't pass either.

I think she made her point.

Will it change anything? Probably not; it's still Texas. But you keep dripping water into the reservoir, and one day the damn breaks. They say Texas isn't all that far away from becoming a blue state, and if it did flip, it would change national politics completely.

Smudge wrote:

They say Texas isn't all that far away from becoming a blue state, and if it did flip, it would change national politics completely.

All the major cities except Fort Worth vote Democrat, and they're the only areas growing in population. And Ann Richards was Governor of Texas 25 years ago. The buckle on the bible belt has since been corrupted by the wealthy Xtians.

Baywolfe wrote:

All the major cities except Fort Worth vote Democrat, and they're the only areas growing in population.

I did not know either of those two things. Add to that the inevitable increases in Hispanics due to higher birthrates, and you have Texas turning blue at some point in the future, and with it a significant shift in presidential politics if nothing else.

Smudge wrote:

Baywolfe wrote:

All the major cities except Fort Worth vote Democrat, and they're the only areas growing in population.

I did not know either of those two things. Add to that the inevitable increases in Hispanics due to higher birthrates, and you have Texas turning blue at some point in the future, and with it a significant shift in presidential politics if nothing else.

It's been an interesting political history. In the Presidential elections, of course they voted Democrat for Roosevelt and Truman and the whole time LBJ was VP or President and for his VP Humphrey, and lastly for Jimmy Carter. Since then, the wealth and power of big oil has made Texas a conservative corporation. Nobody in Texas owns the mineral rights to their property. We're considered "surface owners".

This is interesting stuff, and contains a few surprises. The overall trend, however, I think, is the same for most of the South (and Texas, to my way of thinking, is really a southern state, culturally, more than a western state). Staunch Democrats, right up until civil rights legislation was passed; Republicans thereafter, because that's the only other choice.

That's a tough one for Democrats to swallow, because they were right (in my view) to pass civil rights, but they're still paying for it half a century later. That particular principal was really costly in political terms.

Texas should get some special note, however, for avoiding going for Nixon in '68, even if they did drink the Koolaid four years later.

"...and Texas, to my way of thinking, is really a southern state, culturally, more than a western state"

Almost as soon as I typed that bit above, I began to question it. I think the truth is a bit more complicated. And I think it gets at the paradox which is Texas. The part of Texas which is southern is the narrow, provincial, religious and closed minded part -- and all of that exists in abundance. But that's not the whole story; Texas is also forward thinking, bold, daring, optimistic and opportunistic; characteristics which I would argue resemble the idealized western state (if perhaps not the reality of any of them).

Smudge wrote:

"...and Texas, to my way of thinking, is really a southern state, culturally, more than a western state"

Almost as soon as I typed that bit above, I began to question it. I think the truth is a bit more complicated. And I think it gets at the paradox which is Texas. The part of Texas which is southern is the narrow, provincial, religious and closed minded part -- and all of that exists in abundance. But that's not the whole story; Texas is also forward thinking, bold, daring, optimistic and opportunistic; characteristics which I would argue resemble the idealized western state (if perhaps not the reality of any of them).

I'm originally from Ohio although I've lived in Texas now for 37 years so, more than half my life. I think a lot of Texans, mostly rural, still think of it as The Republic of Texas. Almost a separate country. You're right about forward thinking. Hell, they invented air conditioning in Houston.

True story many, many years before 9/11.Driving from Buffalo, NY to Niagara Falls, ON at the Canadian Border.

Border Officer: Good afternoon, are you from the United States?Me: No, we're from Texas.Border Officer: {Smiles} Welcome to Canada!

Baywolfe wrote:

This chart got me thinking. Many people have said how the citification of the population is increasing the power basis of the Democrats. But the states that are growing the fastest have been the Republican states. Mostly I blame it on the aging populations choice over living in a place with business focus vs social issue spending and the explosion of Christian Fundamentalism and their well oiled political juggernaut.

Smudge wrote:

Baywolfe wrote:

It probably doesn't have a ghost of a chance to pass anyway. Texas State Government = Misogyny-R-Us these days.

Well, it shouldn't pass, of course.

It was obviously never intended to pass; it was intended to make a point and to try to make those dick-wearers do some thinking (probably futile).

It was easily twenty years ago that a female member of the NC legislature introduced a bill stating that, if a woman went for an abortion and the father was married, the father would have to get written permission from his wife. This was clearly a nonsense bill but was aimed at the hearts (and crotches) of all those mistress-havin' shitbastards in the legislature who were trying to make it harder for women to get what they need. I loved it then and I love it now.

As far as Texas being "Southern": My spouse and I have been joking for years that Texas is not the South for the following reasons:1) There is no kudzu here.2) They don't sweeten their iced tea.3) Their "barbecue" is horrible.4) They never had Krispy Kreme doughnut shops until the company expanded out of the real South.

Texas isn't the West, either. Texas is Texas. It's fucking enormous. It's nearly the size of Western Fucking Europe all on its own. It was once a sovereign nation for, like, twenty-two minutes or so, and has never forgotten it.

I have grown to (grudgingly) like some things about Texas. But the place is not the South. It is its very own thing, unlike any other part of the country.

George Orr wrote:

Smudge wrote:

Baywolfe wrote:

It probably doesn't have a ghost of a chance to pass anyway. Texas State Government = Misogyny-R-Us these days.

Well, it shouldn't pass, of course.

It was obviously never intended to pass; it was intended to make a point and to try to make those dick-wearers do some thinking (probably futile).

It was easily twenty years ago that a female member of the NC legislature introduced a bill stating that, if a woman went for an abortion and the father was married, the father would have to get written permission from his wife. This was clearly a nonsense bill but was aimed at the hearts (and crotches) of all those mistress-havin' shitbastards in the legislature who were trying to make it harder for women to get what they need. I loved it then and I love it now.

I agree with you, George. I thought it was cleverly designed and brilliantly targeted satire. I spread this story all over the Internet.

George Orr wrote:

As far as Texas being "Southern": My spouse and I have been joking for years that Texas is not the South for the following reasons:1) There is no kudzu here.2) They don't sweeten their iced tea.3) Their "barbecue" is horrible.4) They never had Krispy Kreme doughnut shops until the company expanded out of the real South.

Texas isn't the West, either. Texas is Texas. It's fucking enormous. It's nearly the size of Western Fucking Europe all on its own. It was once a sovereign nation for, like, twenty-two minutes or so, and has never forgotten it.

I have grown to (grudgingly) like some things about Texas. But the place is not the South. It is its very own thing, unlike any other part of the country.

You realize, George, you're telling me I got ALL of it wrong? And count on a Texan to forget the rest of it, and just start talking about how fucking BIG Texas is. I know it's big -- I've driven across it more times than I would like to remember (dear God, but I-10 through Texas goes on forever). I-40 through the panhandle is about the right length; you can do it in a long hour (and still stop in Amarillo to make fun of the people with the dinner plate sized belt buckles).

Okay; truth. I like Tex-Mex. I like real Mexican food even more, but I'd be lying if I denied liking border food. Everything else I still hate (including the part about how they used to be their own country). Jeez.

I'm actually down in Houston right now to see which neighborhoods I'd consider moving to. I love Texas for the climate, the food and the quality of life. I'm currently living in Colorado which has gone so far left in the last few years that I'm moving away. Colorado has been taken over by smug progressives, potheads, hipsters, social justice warriors and feminists who are moving there in droves. I just want as far away from those morons as I can get. I don't like the Texas brand of conservatism, but I welcome it with open arms compared to what I deal with now. Being in Houston for the last week or so has been a breath of fresh air. For the most part Houstonians are normal functioning people that have jobs and identify with the gender they were born with. I can't say the same for Colorado, fuck that place.

Dirckman wrote:

I'm actually down in Houston right now to see which neighborhoods I'd consider moving to. I love Texas for the climate, the food and the quality of life. I'm currently living in Colorado which has gone so far left in the last few years that I'm moving away. Colorado has been taken over by smug progressives, potheads, hipsters, social justice warriors and feminists who are moving there in droves. I just want as far away from those morons as I can get. I don't like the Texas brand of conservatism, but I welcome it with open arms compared to what I deal with now. Being in Houston for the last week or so has been a breath of fresh air. For the most part Houstonians are normal functioning people that have jobs and identify with the gender they were born with. I can't say the same for Colorado, fuck that place.

Dirckman, before you make any permanent-type decisions, go to Houston in July and see if you still feel the same way about it.

George Orr wrote:

Dirckman wrote:

I'm actually down in Houston right now to see which neighborhoods I'd consider moving to. I love Texas for the climate, the food and the quality of life. I'm currently living in Colorado which has gone so far left in the last few years that I'm moving away. Colorado has been taken over by smug progressives, potheads, hipsters, social justice warriors and feminists who are moving there in droves. I just want as far away from those morons as I can get. I don't like the Texas brand of conservatism, but I welcome it with open arms compared to what I deal with now. Being in Houston for the last week or so has been a breath of fresh air. For the most part Houstonians are normal functioning people that have jobs and identify with the gender they were born with. I can't say the same for Colorado, fuck that place.

Dirckman, before you make any permanent-type decisions, go to Houston in July and see if you still feel the same way about it.

I have no problem with the heat. I lived in Lake Havasu City, AZ and worked outdoors in the Summer. After years of my balls freezing to my leg every winter in WY, SD, and ND the heat feels good.

Dirckman wrote:

I'm actually down in Houston right now to see which neighborhoods I'd consider moving to. I love Texas for the climate, the food and the quality of life. I'm currently living in Colorado which has gone so far left in the last few years that I'm moving away. Colorado has been taken over by smug progressives, potheads, hipsters, social justice warriors and feminists who are moving there in droves. I just want as far away from those morons as I can get. I don't like the Texas brand of conservatism, but I welcome it with open arms compared to what I deal with now. Being in Houston for the last week or so has been a breath of fresh air. For the most part Houstonians are normal functioning people that have jobs and identify with the gender they were born with. I can't say the same for Colorado, fuck that place.

I lived in Houston for 13 years, even met my wife there (a Minnesota girl), the people are pretty nice and the town has everything you'd want in a big town but I hate their traffic and their fucking weather. Way too humid. We like Dallas much better even though it's not as warm in the wintertime.

Baywolfe wrote:

Emmeran wrote:

At that point why not just move to San Diego and enjoy year round perfect weather?

Because an apartment the size of a discarded refrigerator box costs $3000 a month. You want to buy a home? Hope you can afford a starting range of $750,000 to $3,000,000.

I'm impressed with the cost of houses in the Houston area. I can almost buy two houses for what my house in Colorado is worth. I keep thinking there must be something wrong with the neighborhoods, but housing is just inexpensive here even in desirable neighborhoods.

Dirckman wrote:

Baywolfe wrote:

Emmeran wrote:

At that point why not just move to San Diego and enjoy year round perfect weather?

Because an apartment the size of a discarded refrigerator box costs $3000 a month. You want to buy a home? Hope you can afford a starting range of $750,000 to $3,000,000.

I'm impressed with the cost of houses in the Houston area. I can almost buy two houses for what my house in Colorado is worth. I keep thinking there must be something wrong with the neighborhoods, but housing is just inexpensive here even in desirable neighborhoods.

Most of the suburbs are nice. We lived in Katy for a while. It used to be that the closer to downtown you were, the more expensive the houses. My oldest son and his family live in Tomball, it's really cheap out there. What areas are you looking in?